Title

The rat catcher

Artist

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn

About

This early etching is the first fully fledged genre scene in Rembrandt's work. The rat catcher carries a pole surmounted by a cage containing live rats, with a few poisoned specimens dangling below. His young assistant carries a box presumably containing rat poison or other wares. It is unclear whether the old man in the doorway is rejecting the proffered goods or turning away in disgust at the two pedlars, with their unsavoury merchandise and advertisements, after the transaction has taken place.